Marking plate for keys and method of securing same



I Jan. 3, 1933. R, H c o so 1,892,995

MARKING PLATE FOR KEYS AND METHOD OF SECURING SAME Filed Jan. 25, 1932 Man/To 1e 5055a?" H N/cw/vso/v access to the interior of the box by means of forced back into the perforation 13 it will Patented Jan. 3, i

UNITED STATESP'ATENT OFFICE ROBERT H. NICHOLSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA MARKING- PLATE FOR KEYS AND METHOD OF SECURING SAME 7 Application filed January 25, 1932. Serial No. 588,689.

My invention relates to keys and is illuswith pin tumbler locks, often called Yale trated as applied to a flat metal key adapted locks, which are adapted to be opened with a for use in pin tumbler locks. My invention flat metal key. My invention is well adapted is particularly adapted for use in keys used to be applied to such keys which are pro 5 in connection with safety deposit boxes of vided with heads 11 as shown in Fig.3. These bank vaults and this use will hereinafter be heads may be circular, as shown, or of some described to illustrate one use of my invenother form. Each of these heads is provided tion. with a cylindrical opening hole 12 for at- Safety deposit boxes are commonly metal tachment to a key ring, not shown. boxes, each provided with an individual lock Stamped in the head adjacent the opening and one or more individual keys, the boxes 12 is a number plate perforation 13 in which being arranged inside a bank vault. These a number plate 14: fits. By stamping out all boxes are rented to the general public and the perforations 13 with the same die it is are usually serially numbered, each of the possible to make them all of about the same 15 keys bearing the number of the box to which size and the metal removed from the head it applies. Whenever the user of a box ceases in forming the perforation 13 can be used as to use same and surrenders his keys it is necesthe initial number plate 14. The perforation sary to change the lock and key on that box 13 and the number plate 1- are thus the same .to prevent the former user from obtaining size and shape, and if the number plate 1 1 is a duplicate key which he may have had made usually be frictionally gripped with sufliwhile the keys were in his possession. cient force to hold it in place. 'Whenever it The usual practice is to remove the lock is desired to interchange locks on two boxes from the box with which it has been used and the number plates of the respective keys can 125 interchange it with a lock from another box. he forced out of the keys and interchanged.

It is necessary to mark the key with the Small variations in the size of the perfonumber of the box to which it applies. When rations 13 and the plates 14 affect the tightthe lock is changed to another box the number ness with which the number plates 14 are held I then on the keys corresponding to the lock' in the perforations 1.3. If any plate 14 is 30 does not correctly indicate the new box to slightly oversize the plate 14 may be reduced which the lock has been applied and the in size or the perforations 13 can be innumber on the keys must be removed and creased by filing. If, however, any plate 14 the number of the new box placed thereon. is too small or any perforation is too large It is an object of my invention to provide it is not practical to add metal thereto. means by which the number on the keys can I have found, however, that by making the be readily and cheaply changed. wall 15 of the perforation 13 adjacent the Further objects and advantages will be opening 12 roughly concentric with the openmade evident hereinafter. ing 12 I form what I term a spring bridge 16 In the drawing: of the material between the opening 12 and Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a key with the perforation 13. This spring bridge 16 a tightening tool in place therein. has considerable resiliency and may be dis- Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section torted slightly to allow a number plate 141 to showing the method of using the tightening be sprung in place and exerts a spring prestool, and sure on the plate when it is in place.

Fig. 3 is a View of a portion of a key If for any reason the number plate is slightadapted to be used in practising my invenly too small, the perforation 13 can be re tion. duced in area by placing a conical spreading Fig. at is a view of a number plate adapted tool 20 in the opening 12 and striking it to be used in the key shown in Fig. 3. sharply with a hammer 21. This enlarges Safe deposit boxes are ordinarily provided the opening 12, spreading the walls thereof,

and crowding the metal of the spring bridge 16 over so that its pressure on the number plate 14 is increased. It is thus possible to look a number plate 14 in a perforation 13 even though the number plate 14 is slightly smaller than the perforation 13.

It should be understoodthat the changing of locks on safe-deposit boxes isu'sually-performed on the premises where the boxes are situated by a workman specialized in this service. It is thereforenecessary that any tools used shall be simple and readily portable, which are advantages possessed by my invention.

I claim as my invention: 1 '1. A key formed of sheet ed to be used inpin tumblerlocks, compris ing: award portion; a head, saidhead having aperforation extending entirely there- I through,and a cylindrical openingadapted to receive a key ring; and a marking plate tweensaid perforation and said opening,

. are

(of substantially the same thickness as said head) fitting in said perforation, said perforation being so formed that the sidethereof aadjacent said opening is concentric with said thus leaving a spr ng bridge .be-

op a

said bridge being adapted to engage each marking plate with a yieldablepressure toretain same in place. a

. 2. A method of securing a marking plate in a key head, which comprises forming a perforation extending entirely through saidhead and adapted to receive a marking plate of he same thickness assaid head; forminga circular ring-opening entirely through said head adjacent said perforation in such aposition as to leave a spring bridge between said opening and sald perforat on; lnsertlng a marking plate in said perforation, and expanding said spring bridge against said marking plate by pressureapplied to. the wall a of said opening.

Akey of the character described, having: a head providedvwith a pair, of perforations formed therethrough which are separated by a deformable bridge anda markings plate fitted in one of said openings and being engaged by said deformable bridge which 1 retains same in place.

In testimony.whereof,I have hereunto set my handat Los Angeles, California, this 20th day of-January, 1932.

ROBERT E. NICHOLSON.

metal and adapt- (mmwiw January 3. 1933.

Patent No. .1, 892,

v F L RGEERT H. NHJHQLSE it is hereby aertifiet i 5011 as fsiiows: Page 2, line claim- Letters Patent shouid he read cmaform 10 ihe rQcfird m the with this cfirrection 1.

case in the Pawn @fics.

Signed and sealed thin 28th day 0: Feiwuary, A. F). 1933.

M. J. 00m, (Seal) Acting lammissianer of Patents. 

